Sunset Magic!
Inspired by last night’s epic sunset, I decided to collect my favorite sunset viewing spots from my new books to Oakland and Berkeley, San Francisco, and Northern California Wine Country. Head out to these ideal vistas, or follow your nose to discover new panoramic points!
Daniel, GrassRoutes illustrator, got a great shot of it from his window!
Sunset on a Rock: Berkeley
Indian Rock, 950 Indian Rock Avenue
What is better than a contemplative perch atop the bay? Not much, I’d say, and very little is literally above you when you are poised on Indian Rock, peering over the towns below. This rock is many things to many people–a chalk-covered bouldering spot for local climbers, a viewpoint for new residents getting the pay of the land, an ideal picnic spot, and, for me, a place to contemplate. The rock is sheltered by two huge eucalyptus trees and accessible by the many hidden walking paths in this region of the Berkeley Hills, so despite its size it is hard to find if you don’t make the right turns through the mazes of streets. Take Indian Rock Road, which branched off of Arlington Way right after the Marin Circle at the base of the hills. Follow it up, without straying off route, and you’ll soon be climbing the carved rock stairs to this natural throne hovering over the kingdom of Berkeley.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland and Berkeley, more info here.
Sunset over the City: San Francisco
Sutro Tower, La Avanzada Street, at the top of Market Street
“The Fork” as my late Grandmother used to call it, looks over SF with a constant blink of red light, making it the north star of this fine city. Look up to see it and you’ll be better able to comprehend your bearings, since it marks the tippy top of Market Street from the east and the heights above Cole Valley from the north. Surprisingly it is not too touristed, considering the lot below it offers a sweeping view of the cityscape. If you turned on your imagination, or took it to the next setting on your internal dial, you could think of Sutro as one monster, born to outdo the other “monsters” in the bay—the two famous bridges Bay Bridge and Golden Gate, like Herb Caen did in his writings on the city.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to San Francisco: Urban Eco-Travel, more info here
Sunset with Birds: Bodega Bay
Bodega Head, west on Eastshore Road, follow to end
“…Lines of light striate the mouth of the Russian River, where an arm of sand protects the placid waters from the pounding Pacific surf. Just an hour ago the sky was a wash of peach and turquoise, I made out the silhouette of a lone kayaker paddling at sunset, not disturbing the floating kite birds playing in the breeze before heading home to their nests.
It has been a beautiful November day on the Sonoma coast. I followed the narrow band of land to Bodega Head where I chanced upon two stags, munching away with their doe brides following close behind. The surf at the Head was rough and powerful, but it didn’t deter the multitude of birds and mammals that call this special place home. I tip toed toward the edge of the sandy rocks to see the waves flushing through tide pools, waving a tangle of kelp to and fro as it drained back into the next wave…”
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Northern California Wine Country: Green Road Trip, more info here
Sunset with Song: Oakland
Woodminster Amphitheater and Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller Rd, 238-7275
Under the Woodminster Amphitheater is a glorious sight, a twin stone staircase sandwiching the most glorious waterfall in the Bay Area. Overlooking the entire bay, this is a special spot whether you want to gawk, flirt, work out, catch a free performance at the amphitheater, or just sit quietly and contemplate the wonders of life. Be prepared for your jaw to drop. Up in the amphitheater musicals run through the summer and into the fall, plus for four consecutive Sundays beginning in September there are free concerts featuring the Oakland East Bay Symphony.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland and Berkeley, more info here.
Enjoy many future sunsets!
Tags: CA Wine Country, Oakland/Berkeley, Romantic Trips, San Francisco
